Material handling apparatus



April 22, 1969 e. TUCKER, JR.. ET AL 3,440,145

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1965 Sheet I of 2 L/NWOOD a.rue/ 52, JR. d JOSEPH RO/(OP April 22, 1969 L. G. TUCKER, JR. ET3,440,145

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS.

Sheet Z of 2 Filed March 26, 1965 United States Patent Oflice 3,440,145Patented Apr. 22, 1969 3,440,145 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Linwood G.Tucker, In, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Joseph Rokop, Middletown, Ohio,assignors to Koppers Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar.26, 1965, Ser. No. 443,043 Int. Cl. Cb 35/00 US. Cl. 202--262 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carriage mounted to a larry car supports anelectromagnet mechanism that lifts a coke oven charging hole cover andmoves the cover in a straight line to a predetermined horizontaldistance; whereupon the cover is released. The mechanism later lifts thecover and moves it backward in a straight line, the same horizontaldistance and accurately replaces the cover.

This invention relates to material handling apparatus and, moreparticularly, to apparatus for removing and replacing the charging holecover plates in the tops of coke oven battery coking chambers, gasproducers, furnaces, and the like.

In a horizontal coke oven battery, which is typical of the installationsto which the invention is applicable, the individual coking chambers arecharged with coal through charging holes in the top of each chamber. Thenumber of charging holes per chamber varies from installation toinstallation, but there is generally at least one charging hole andusually more than two in each coking chamber. A supply of coal, which isto be charged into the coking chambers, is usually carried in a larrycar that is movable on rails over the top of the battery and over theindividual coking chambers. Some form of apparatus for removing andreplacing the charging hole covers or lids is generally mounted on thelarry car and operated by the larry car operator from a central controlstation.

The individual charging holes have a flared upper end which is closed byan individual cover or lid that seats in the flared mouth.

The lid or cover for each charging hole has heretofore been removed invarious ways such as, for example, by a workman stationed atop the cokeoven battery who manipulated the covers as necessary. In otherinstallations, the covers were removed and replaced by both mechanicaland electro-mechanical apparatus mounted on the larry car. In any case,the apparatus and methods used heretofore required very accuratespotting of the larry car in order to remove and place the lid or coveraccurately. Sometimes the car operator was not careful in replacing thecover and many times a faulty seating of the cover occurred. This faultyseating of the cover allows valuable coke even gas to escape to theatmosphere, valuable heat is also lost, and the coking time isconsequently extended.

The present invention includes a carriage mounted on a larry car forhorizontal movement in a straight line between stop members establisheda predetermined distance apart. A support mast is mounted to thecarriage for vertical movement relative thereto and an electromagnet ismounted to the lower end of the mast. A first powered yoke actuates alink mechanism that simultaneously advances the carriage to a firstposition against one stop member and lowers the mast against resilientbias means to bring the magnet into engagement with a charging hole lid.After the magnet is energized to attract and hold the cover, thecarriage is retracted from its first position and simultaneously themast and the magnetically held cover are raised; the carriage being alsomovable to a second position against the second stop member. The yokeand link mechanism operate continuously and lower the mast and cover tothe top of the coke oven battery. Whereupon, the cover is releasablefrom the magnet, and the mast is thereafter raised to its initialat-rest position. After the cover is replaced in the charging hole, asecond power driven yoke actuates links that oscillates the magneticallysecured cover in order to seat it properly.

Thus, the present invention makes it possible to rapidly, accurately andsatisfactorily remove and replace the lids of. charging holes of a cokeoven battery.

For a further understanding of the present invention and for furtheradvantages and features thereof, reference maybe made to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this application, which exemplify. a preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic transverse sectional view of the upper portion ofa coke oven battery showing typical larry car incorporating the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the lid lifting apparatusof the present invention in one operative position;

FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2in another operative position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the major portion of theapparatus of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view along IVIV of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1, a conventional larry car 11 includes a main frame structure13 which is movable along the top of a coke oven battery 15 over aplurality of coal charging chutes 17 communicating with a typical cokingchamber 19. The larry car 11 is provided with wheels 21 which arejournally mounted to the frame structure 13 and which are adapted toroll upon rail members 23 aiiixed to the top of the battery 15.

The larry car 11 also supports a plurality of coal storage bins 25, anda charging hole cover handling mecha nism 27 which is convenientlydisposed axially above each charging hole 17. FIGS. 2, 3 and 4illustrate the charging hole cover handling mechanisms 27; suchmechanism being shown in one operative position.

The cover handling mechanism 27 includes a support carriage 29 (see FIG.4) which is provided with a plurality, preferably four wheels 31 thatare suitably journalled to the carriage 29. The wheels 31 are adapted toroll on a level surface such as a flange of a conventional structuralmember 33 forming an outwardly extending part of the larry car 11. Thestructural members 33 also support coal charging extension trunks 35which engage the coal charging chutes for the purpose of charging coalinto the chamber 17 in the usual manner.

The carriage 29 includes a pair of spaced apart channel members 37 thatare arranged generally horizontally and at substantially the same levelas the structural support members 33. The wheels 31 are journallymounted to the shafts 39, projecting outwardly from the channel members37 as may be noticed by referring to FIG. 4. A pair of other channelmembers 41 are fixed, as by welding, to and extended vertically bothabove and below the channel members 37. Preferably, considerably largerportions of the channel members 41 extend below the channel members 37than above. Also, preferably, the vertical channel members face eachother wherefore each channel member 41 forms a guideway for a pluralityof other wheels 43.

The lower portion of the vertical channel members 41 are welded to crosslinking members 44, for a purpose to be disclosed hereinafter.

Between the vertical legs 41, there is a vertical hollow tubular mast 45which may be round or square, or have any other preferable crosssectional shape. The mast 45 is provided with spaced apart diametricallyopposed outwardly projecting pairs of stub shafts 47 (see FIG. 3) towhich the wheels 43 are suitably journalled. Thus, the mast 45 issupported and movable vertically by virtue of the rollers 43 coactingwith the guideways in the vertical channels 41.

To the bottom of the mast 45 there is fixed as by welding a first collar49 to which is integrally fixed to yoke arms 51, 53 (see FIG. 3). Eachyoke arm supports an elongate member 54 which is connected by means ofpivot pins 55 to a second collar 57 that is pivotable about asubstantially horizontal axis. The second collar 57 surrounds andsupports an electromagnet (not shown) which has a top cover plate 59 anda bottom outwardly extending flange ring 61.

The top cover plate 59 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposedears 63 which project outwardly from the periphery of the cover plate.Fixed to and depending from the ears are rods 65. A horizontallydisposed link rod 67 is pivotally connected to each of the rods and toan arm of a yoke structure 69 that is fixed to the lower end of avertical control rod 71 which is suitably coupled at 73 at its upper endto the drive shaft of a motor 75. The motor 75 is mounted on a supportplate 77 which is fixed to the top of the mast 45. A U-shaped strap 78loosely surrounds the control rod 71 adjacent its lower end and iswelded to the first collar 49.

The hollow mast 45 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longoval longitudinal slots 79 in the wall thereof. Within the mast there isdisposed a compression spring 81 which abuts a suitable upper springretainer (not shown) and against a lower spring retainer bar 83extending through the slots 79 in the mast 45. The bar 83 is fixed tothe transversely disposed support bars 44 which are welded to thevertically depending channel legs 41. Thus, the bar 83 forms a fixedsupport against which the spring is actionable and the mast isvertically reciprocable relative to the bars 83 and 44.

The relative position of the bar 83 with respect to the bottom of theslots 79 is determined generally from the requirement that when thecover is raised, in the manner to be described hereinafter, the bar 83is close to, but not contiguous with, the bottom of the slot 79. Thevertical height of the slot is likewise determined by the requirementthat when the mast is reciprocated downward, in a manner to be describedlater, the spring being compressed accordingly, the bar 83 is close to,but not contiguous with, the upper end of the slot 79.

Extending transversely across the top of the structural members 33 (seeFIGS. 2 and 3), there are diametrically opposed compensating link bars87, 89, which are individually pivotally mounted on shafts 91, 93,respectively. These shafts 9.1, 93 are suitably fixedly mounted to thelarry car beams 33 as by the bearing supports 94, 96.

A short length of chain 95 is suitably fixed to each end of each linkbar 87, 89, and the chain is connected at its lower end to pairs ofother link bars 97, 99. Each pair of link bars 97, 99 is mounted to acommon pivot pin 101, about as shown in FIG. 3. The pivot pins 101 arediametrically opposed, and they are fixed to and extend from the mast45.

Adjacent the chain connected end of the link bars 97, 99 there isanother pin 103 which extends between the bars 97a, 97b (see FIG. 4)making up each pair of the link bars 97, and between the bars 99a and99b of the link bar 99. These pins 103 are fixed in the link bars as bywelding or any other suitable manner.

Directly above each pair of commonly pivoted link bars 97, 99 there isprovided a bell crank 105 having outwardly projecting arms 107, 109.Each bell crank v105 is also pivotally mounted to the mast 45 by meansof a pivot pin 111 disposed substantially vertically above pivot pin101, and each bell crank is provided with a vertically upwardlyextending lever 113. The upper end of each upwardly vertically extendinglever is pivotally connected as at 115 to one arm of a yoke 117. Theyoke 117 is fixedly connected to one end of a push-pull bar 119 which ispivotally connected to a crank 121 (see FIG. 2). The other end of thecrank 121 is operatively connected to a motor 123. The motor 123 ismounted in fixed location on the larry car in a suitable and convenientplace. Associated with the crank 121 is a stop bar 125 which is weldedto the larry car about where shown in FIG. 2a. The purpose of this stopbar will become apparent hereinafter.

Vertical thrust bars 127, 129 (see FIG. 3) are pivotally connected tothe ends of the bell crank arms 107, 109 and depend therefrom. The lowerend of the thrust bars 127, 129 are slotted at 131 to form spaced apartprojecting fingers 133, 135. The bars 127, 129 are long enough so thatwhen the bell crank 105 is moved to one operative position (see FIG. 3)the slot 131 in the bar .127 engages the pin 103 and exerts a downwardforce on the link bars 97.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, theapparatus is described with respect to a larry car adapted to service acoking chamber 19 having three charging chutes 17. While this is aconvenient number of charging chutes, it should be understood that thelarry car would support an apparatus for each of the number of chutes ina coking chamber. That is to say if there are 4, 5 or 6 chambers, thenthere would be correspondingly 4, 5 or 6 lid handling apparatus mountedon the larry car.

Each coal charging chute is provided with the flared upper end 137wherein a circular lid or cover 139 is seated to close the chargingchute. Such a lid or cover 139 is illustrated generally in FIG. 2. Theupper surface of the lid 137 is preferably flush with the top of thecoke oven battery and the top of the cover 139 is made of magneticmaterial, whereby it may be magnetically coupled to the electromagnetsupported by the yoke arms 51, 53.

Since the charging hole lid handling mechanism 27 is the same forsubstantially all of the lids, a description of the use of the mechanismto remove and then reinstall one lid will suffice to illustrate themethod of handling all of the lids. It will be assumed that the cokingchamber 19 has been emptied and that the chamber is again ready to berecharged with coal. The larry car 11, carrying the coal in storage bins25 is then brought over the chamber 19 until the lid handling mechanism,and particularly the electromagnetic units thereof, are above respectivelids. The magnet mechanisms will be in the raised or normal positionabout as shown in FIG. 1. In such position the resilient biased spring81 is in the normal state of at-rest compression and the crank 121 willbe in such a position that the lever 113 is substantially vertical.

The larry car need not be precisely spotted with respect to a particularcover or lid. It suffices if the magnet, when depressed into contactwith a lid as described presently, engages the lid over an areasufiicient to receive enough magnetic force to hold and raise the cover.

The removal of the cover from its charging chute is easy and quicklyaccomplished. The motor 123 is first actuated so as to move the crank121 in a clockwise direction from its initial position to the positionshown in FIG. 2. At the same time the carriage 29 is pushed by the yoke117 toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, until the wheels 31 engagethe stop 141. Thereafter, as the crank 121 continues to rotateclockwise, the yoke 117 pivots the bell cranks 105 and levers in aclockwise direction also. During the rotation of the bell cranks, thedepending thrust bars 129 move downward and the fingers 133, straddlethe pin 103 forcing it into the slot 131. Then, as the thrust bars 129continue to move downward, they act on the pins 103 and urge the linkbars 97, 99a, 99b downward. However, one end of the link bars 99 isfixed relative to the carriage 29 via the chains 95 and the transversejournally mounted equalizing bar 89. And so, the fixed end of the linkbars 99 cannot move downward, but the other end of the link member 99being pivotally connected to the mast as at 101 causes the mast itselfto move downward. The mast 45 descends against the resilient biasedmember or spring 81, which is internally biased between the mast and thefixed bar 83. Thus, the downward movement of the mast causes the spring81 to be compressed. As the mast descends, it is, of course, guided bythe wheels 43 coacting with the guideways in the vertical channel legs41.

The lid lifting mechanism or carriage 29 is rollably supported by theframe 13 and, as mentioned previously, is pushed toward the right, asviewed in FIG. 2, until the wheels 31 engage a right hand stop member141, fixed to the horizontally extending channel 33 of the larry car. Insuch a first position, the magnet may be substantially concentric withthe charging hole and lid but not necessarily so. Actually, the magnetneeds to engage only so much of the lid as is necessary to hold it whenthe magnet is energized. The motor 123 continues to actuate the bellcrank mechanisms until the magnet engages the lid 139 whereupon themotor 123 stops. It should be mentioned that one purpose of thepivotally mounted link bars 87, 89 and chains 95 is to insure equalsymmetrical loadings on the mast during its movement downward andupward, as will be explained hereinafter.

The magnet may be now energized from any available source of power and,of course, the lid will be magnetically coupled to the magnet.

Thereupon, the motor 123 is reversed and the crank 121 now rotates in acounterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2. Thebell cranks 105 then pivot about pivot pin 111 in a counterclockwisedirection, and the force in the compressed spring 8 1 urges the mastupward, raising the lid from the charging hole until the upper set ofwheels 43 engage a stop member 145, fixed in the channel guide legs 41.

After the mast has stopped raising, the crank 129 continues ot rotatecounterclockwise. The push-pull bar 119 pulls the carriage 29 toward theleft, as viewed in FIG. 2, and the carriage rolls on the rails 23 untilthe left hand carriage wheels 31 engage the left hand stop member 143.When this occurs, the lid will have been moved from the charging hole adistance substantial-1y equal to the distance between the opposed innersurfaces of the right and left hand stops 141, 143 respectively.However, the crank 121 continues to rotate counterclockwise and the bellcranks 105 do likewise. The thrust bar 127, being pivotally connected tothe bell crank arm 1 07, descends and the fingers of the bar 127straddle the thrust pin 103 urging it into the slot 131. Thereafter, thefurther movement of the bar 127 urges the link bar 97 downward also.Because one end of the bar 97 is fixed relative to the carriage via thechain 95 and equalizer bar 87, it cannot move downward. Thus, the freeend of bar 97, which is pivotally connected to the mast, moves downwardand causes the mast to again move downward against the spring 81. Thecrank 121, meanwhile, continues to rotate counterclockwise and urges themast and lid to descend until the crank engages the stop 125 (see FIG.2a). By this time, the lid will be substantially resting on the top ofthe battery, and the magnet may be deenergized to release the lid inthat position. The stop 125 is positioned so that the lid will bepractically in contact with the top of the battery, and when the magnetis deenergized the lid drops practically not at all.

Thereupon, the motor 123 may be reversed and the crank 121 will berotated clockwise to a convenient position between the end stops atwhich the spring 81 is compressibly at rest. The extension trunk 35 maynow be brought into operative engagement with the coal charging chute inthe usual manner and thereafter the coking chamber 19 may be loaded withcoal. Thereupon, the ex tension trunk may be elevated to a positionabout as shown in FIG. 2.

The larry car is now ready to be moved along the top of the battery tothe next coking chamber where the same procedure to remove the lids andload the chamber with coal can be repeated.

The procedure for replacing the lids is substantially a reversal of theremoval action except that the larry car will be moving in the oppositedirection along the top of the coke oven battery. When the lid-s of acoking chamber are to be replaced, the larry car is moved to a positionadjacent the charging chutes where the extension trunk is approximatelybut not necessarily concentric with the coal charging chute.

It is a feature of the present invention that it is not necessary toprecisely position the larry car with respect to the charging chute.That is, it is not necessary to bring the larry car back to the precisespot where it was located when the lid was removed. It suffices that themagnet engages sufiicient surface area of the lid to effect a magneticcoupling force capable of raising the lid. Now, with the crank 121 andthe carriage 129 at the extreme left hand position as viewed in FIG. 2,the magnet may be energized to couple the lid thereto, and, by reversingthe steps delineated hereinbefore, the lid can be moved to an accuratecenter position with respect to the charging chute 17 from which it wasoriginally removed. It will be apprecitaed that the centering isaccurate because the distance the lid was moved horizontally when it wasremoved (being the distance between the carriage stops 141, 143) is thevery same distance it is moved horizontally when the lid is replaced.That this horizontal distance is constant regardless of the relativeposition of the magnet with respect to the lid makes the centeringaccurate.

After the lid engages the seat in the charging chute, the lid may beseated by actuating the motor 75. This motor mechanism is preferably onewhich will cause the control rod and yoke to oscillate about thevertical axis of the rod 71. The cover plate 59, being connected to theyoke by means of the link rod 67, also oscillates as does the magnet andthe lid coupled thereto. Hence, the lid may be oscillated to effect agrinding-in of the cover when it is replaced in its seat.

During the seating of the lid, a pressure substantially equal to theWeight of the lid and the magnet acts on the lid. This vertical grindingforce may be increased if desired by making a suitable adjustment in theangular rotation of the crank 121. Moreover, the angular oscillatorymotion of'the lid may also be adjusted to include a Wide range ifdesired.

It is a feature of the present invention that the oscillating motion forseating of the lid in place is without radial forces which tend to cantthe lid out of its horizontal seated position. Also, the lid isaccurately seated into the charging hole since the flanged rim 61 whichencases the magnet is larger in diameter than the charging hole, wherebythere is no tendency for the lid to become biased in the seat portion ofthe charging hole.

Another feature of the present invention is that a single power unit 123moves the carriage longitudinally between the carriage stops and alsoactuates the mast to raise and lower the lid.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

a larry car movable along the top of said battery over said chargingholes;

a carriage mounted on said larry car for movement in a substantiallystraight line;

stop members fixed to said larry car a predetermined distance apartthereby establishing first and second extreme positions between whichsaid carriage is movable;

a support column mounted on said carriage;

means for vertically reciprocating said column relative to saidcarriage;

a first yoke member affixed to said column with arms extendingtherefrom;

an electromagnet mounted to the arms of said first yoke and movableabout a substantially vertical axis;

means for oscillating said magnet about said axes whereby When saidcover is replaced and oscillated said cover is seated in said charginghole;

a pair of first lever members centrally pivotally mounted to saidcarriage and disposed on opposite sides of said column, each said linkmember extending longitudinally of said carriage away from said centralpivot;

second lever members pivotally mounted to said column below each pair ofsaid first links and extending longitudinally of said carriage away fromtheir respective pivot;

means for fixing the ends of said second lever members relative to saidcarriage;

a link member pivotally connected adjacent each end of each pair offirst lever members and extending downward therefrom;

a spring biased between said carriage and said column whereby when saidcolumn moves downward said spring is compressed;

a second yoke having arms pivotally connected to said first pair oflever members;

means to move said larry car to a position where said magnet is inoperative juxtaposition to one of said covers;

means to advance said second yoke in the direction of said carriagewhereby said carriage moves relative to said first position and saidfirst lever members pivot in one direction whereby one pair of saiddepending link members engage a first opposed pair of said second leversand urge said column and said magnet downward into operative proximityto said cover;

means to energize said magnet whereby the same is coupled to said cover;and

means to retract said second yoke whereby said first lever members pivotin the opposite direction and said spring urges said column andmagnetically held cover upward from its charging hole and said carriageis moved from said first position to said second position, said coverbeing moved in a straight line from said charging hole a distancesubstantially equal to the distance between said first and secondpositions, and the other pair of opposed depending link members engage asecond pair of said second levers and urge said column and saidmagnetically held cover downward; and

means to de-energize said magnet and release said cover.

2. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

a structure movable along the top of said battery over said chargingholes;

a carriage mounted on and movable in a substantially straight line onsaid movable structure;

first and second stop means fixed to said movable structure apredetermined distance apart thereby establishing first and secondextreme positions between which said carriage is movable in saidstraight line;

a support member mounted on said carriage;

means for reciprocating said support member relative to said carriage;

an electromagnet fixed to said support member;

means to advance said carriage to said first extreme position locatingthe electromagnet in operative relation to the cover and simultaneouslyto lower said support member until said magnet is in operativejuxtaposed relation to one of said covers;

means to energize said magnet and couple said cover thereto; and

means to raise said support member and said cover from its charging holeand simultaneously retract said carriage in said straight line from saidfirst extreme position to said second extreme position.

3. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

a structure movable along the top of said battery over said chargingholes;

a carriage mounted on said movable structure and movable in asubstantially straight line;

means limiting the linear movement of said carriage to a predetermineddistance between first and second terminal positions;

a support member mounted on said carriage;

means for reciprocating said support member with respect to saidcarriage;

an electromagnet mounted to said support member;

means for oscillating said electromagnet about a substantially verticalaxis;

resilient means biased between said carriage and said support memberwhereby when said support member reciprocates downward said resilientmeans is stressed;

means to advance said carriage to said first terminal position;

means to move downward said support member against said resilient biasmeans until said magnet is operatively juxtaposed to one of said covers;

means to energize said magnet and couple said cover thereto;

means to release said support member whereby said resilient bias meansurges said support member upward and the magnetically held cover israised from its charging hole;

means to retract said carriage from said first terminal position to saidsecond terminal position and thereafter reciprocate downward saidsupport member against said resilient bias means;

means to deenergize said magnet and release said cover.

4. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

a larry car movable along the top of said battery over said chargingholes;

a carriage mounted on said larry car and movable in a substantiallystraight line;

stop members fixed to said larry car a predetermined distance apartthereby establishing first and second extreme positions between whichsaid carriage is movable;

a support column mounted On said carriage;

means for vertically reciprocating said column relative to saidcarriage;

a first yoke member affixed to said column with arms extendingtherefrom;

an electromagnet mounted to the arms of said first yoke and movableabout a substantially vertical axis;

means for oscillating said magnet about said axes whereby when saidcover is replaced and oscillated said cover is seated in said charginghole;

means to advance said carriage to said first extreme position andsimultaneously lower said support member until said magnet is inoperative juxtaposition to one of said covers;

means to energize said magnet and couple said cover thereto; and

mean to raise said support member and said cover from its charging holeand simultaneously retract said carriage from said first extremeposition to said second extreme position.

5. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

:1 larry car movable along the top of said battery over said chargingholes;

a carriage mounted on said larry car and movable in a substantiallystraight line;

stop members fixed to said larry car a predetermined distance apartestablishing first and second extreme positions between which saidcarriage is movable;

a support column mounted on said carriage;

means for vertically reciprocating said column relative to saidcarriage;

a first yoke member affixed to said column with arms extendingtherefrom;

an electromagnet mounted to the arms of said first yoke and movableabout a substantially vertical axis;

means for oscillating said magnet about said axis whereby when saidcover is replaced and oscillated said cover is seated in said charginghole;

resilient means biased between said carriage and said support memberwhereby when said support member reciprocates downward said resilientmeans is stressed;

means to advance said carriage to said first extreme position;

means to move downward said support member against said resilient biasmeans until said magnet is operatively juxtaposed to one of said covers;

means to energize said magnet and couple said cover thereto;

means to release said support member whereby said resilient bias meansurges said support member upward and the magnetically held cover israised from its charging hole; and

means to retract said carriage from said first extreme position to saidsecond extreme position and thereafter reciprocate downward said supportmember against said resilient bias means.

6. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

a structure movable along the top of said battery over said chargingholes;

a carriage mounted on said movable structure and movable in asubstantially straight line;

means limiting the linear movement of said carriage to a predetermineddistance between first and second terminal positions;

a support member mounted on said carriage;

means for reciprocating said support member vertically with respect tosaid carriage;

an electromagnet mounted to said support member;

resilient means biased between said carriage and said support memberwhereby when said support member reciprocates downward said resilientmeans is stressed;

means to advance said carriage to said first terminal position;

means to move downward said support member against said resilient biasmeans until said magnet is operatively juxtaposed to one of said covers;

means to energize said magnet and couple said cover;

means to release said support member whereby said resilient bias meansurges said support'member upward and the magnetically held cover israised from its charging hole;

means to retract said carriage from said first terminal position to saidsecond terminal position and thereafter reciprocate downward saidsupport member against said resilient bias means; and

means to deenergize said magnet and release said cover.

7. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

a structure movable along the top of said battery over said chargingholes;

a carriage mounted on said movable structure for movement in asubstantially straight line;

means limiting the linear movement of said carriage to a predetermineddistance between first and second terminal positions;

a support member mounted on said carriage;

means for reciprocating said support member vertically with respect tosaid carriage;

an electromagnet mounted to said support member;

a pair of first lever members centrally pivotally mounted to saidcarriage and disposed on opposite sides of said column, each said linkmember extending longitudinally of said carriage away from said centralpivot;

second lever members pivotally mounted to said column below each pair ofsaid first links and extending longitudinally of said carriage away fromtheir respective pivot;

means for fixing the ends of said second lever members relative to saidcarriage;

a link member pivotally connected adjacent each end of each pair offirst lever members and extending downward therefrom;

a spring biased between said carriage and said column whereby when saidcolumn moves downward said spring is compressed;

a yoke having arms pivotally connected to said first pair of levermembers;

means to move said larry car to a position where said magnet is inoperative juxtaposition to one of said covers;

means to advance said second yoke in the direction of motion of saidcarriage whereby said carriage moves relative to said first position andsaid first lever members pivot in one direction whereby one pair of saiddepending link members engage a first opposed pair of said second leversand urge said column downward and said magnet into operative proximityto said cover;

means to energize said magnet whereby the same is coupled to said cover;

means to retract said second yoke whereby said first lever members pivotin the opposite direction and said spring urges said column andmagnetically held cover upward from its charging hole and said carriageis moved from said first position to said second position, said coverbeing moved in a straight line from said charging hole a distancesubstantially equal to the distance between said first and secondpositions, and the other pair of opposed depending link members engage asecond pair of said second levers and urge said column and saidmagnetically held cover downward.

'8. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

a carriage movable relative to said charging holes;

stop means spaced apart a predetermined distance establishing first andsecond extreme positions between which said carriage is movable in asubstantially straight line with respect to a charging hole cover;

a support column mounted on said carriage;

means for vertically reciprocating said column relative to saidcarriage;

an electromagnet fixed to said support member;

means to position said carriage in a first position related to theposition of charging hole cover;

means to lower said support member until said magnet is in operativejuxtaposition to said cover;

means to energize said magnet and hold said cover;

means to raise said support member and said cover from its charging holeand simultaneously retract said carriage in said straight line from saidfirst extreme position to said second extreme position; and

means to deenergize said magnet and release said cover.

9. Apparatus for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery comprising:

a carriage movable relative to said charging holes;

stop means spaced apart a predetermined distance and establishing firstand second terminal positions between which said carriage is movable ina substantially straight line with respect to a charging hole cover;

a support column mounted on said carriage;

means for vertically reciprocating said column relative to saidcarriage;

an electromagnet fixed to said support member;

means for oscillating said electromagnet about a substantially verticalaxis;

resilient means biased between said carriage and said support memberwhereby when said support member reciprocates downward said resilientmeans is stressed;

means to advance said carriage to said first terminal position;

means to move downward said support member against said resilient biasmeans until said magnet is operatively juxtaposed to one of said covers;

means to energize said magnet and hold said cover;

means to release said support member whereby said resilient bias meansurges said support member upward and the magnetically held cover israised from its charging hole; and

means to retract said carriage from said first terminal position to saidsecond terminal position and thereafter reciprocate downward saidsupport member against said resilient bias means.

10. The invention according to claim 9 including:

means to deenergize said magnet and release said cover.

11. The method for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery having a structure movable along the top of said battery oversaid charging holes and a carriage mounted on and movable in asubstantially straight line on said movable structure comprising thesteps of:

(a) fixing first and second stop means to said movable structure apredetermined distance apart thereby establishing first and secondextreme positions between which said carriage is movable in saidstraight line;

(b) positioning said carriage in operative relation to a charging holecover at said first extreme position;

(0) lowering an electromagnet mounted to said carriage intojuxtaposition with said cover:

((1) energizing said magnet to couple together said cover and saidmagnet;

(e) raising said cover; and

(f) moving said carriage and said cover through a finite fixed distancefrom the first extreme position to the second extreme position in astraight line away from said charging hole.

12. The method of claim 11 including the step:

(a) moving said carriage and said cover in a straight line from saidsecond position to said first position through said finite fixeddistance to replace said cover;

(b) releasing said cover when said carriage is at said first position.

13. The method of claim 11 including the steps:

(a) releasing said cover when said carriage is at the second position;and

(b) removing said carriage from said second position.

14. The method of claim 13 including the steps:

(a) relocating said carriage adjacent said cover at said secondposition;

(b) engaging and raising said cover;

(c) moving said carriage and said cover from said second positionthrough said finite fixed distance in a straight line to said firstposition;

(d) replacing said cover in said charging hole; and

(e) releasing said cover.

15. The method for handling a cover for a charging hole in a coke ovenbattery having a structure movable along the top of said battery oversaid charging holes and a carriage mounted on and movable in asubstantially straight line on said movable structure comprising thesteps of:

(a) establishing first and second stop means to said movable structure apredetermined distance apart thereby establishing first and secondextreme positions between which said carriage is movable in saidstraight line;

(b) positioning said carriage in operative relation to a charging holecover at said first extreme position; (c) lowering an electromagnetmounted to said carriage in juxtaposition with said cover;

(d) energizing said electromagnet and coupling said cover to saidmagnet;

(e) raising said magnet and said cover;

(f) moving said carriage and cover through a finite distance in astraight line from said first extreme position to said second extremeposition;

(g) releasing said cover at said second position;

(h) engaging and lifting said cover;

(i) moving said carriage through said finite fixed distance in astraight line from said second extreme position to said first extremeposition;

(j) lowering and placing said cover in said charging hole; and

(k) releasing said cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,981,423 4/1961 Randell et al.202262 3,036,720 5/1962 Malkomes 202262 3,142,391 7/1964 Tweit 202-2623,160,573 12/1964 Nepomniashtshy 202262 XR NORMAN YUDKOFF, PrimaryExaminer. D. EDWARDS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

